Mango Tree: It’s the view I’d go here for, most of all, along with the fact that I enjoy Thai food. The place can be hard to find, so do get clear directions on how to get there to avoid getting lost in the meandering avenues up to the restaurant. Choose to dine in the open balcony overlooking the lake between Souk Al Bahar and Dubai Mall. Very touristy, yes, but always fun to watch the dancing fountains with the towering Burj Khalifa’s glinting lights in the background, as a break from the endless shopping options Dubai Mall offers.

A quick, and hard-to-go-wrong-with meal of succulent basil chicken and green Thai curry with jasmine rice was followed by a velvety crème brulee for dessert. Do it at least once!

_________________________________________________

The author, Rehan Poncha, is one of India’s most accomplished athletes, an Olympian Swimmer and Arjuna Awardee, who is also a self-confessed foodie and travel junkie. Follow him on twitter @rehanponcha;